Improvement in corset-clasps



D. H. FANNING.

Corset-Clasp.

No.199,277. Patented Jan. 15,1878.

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N- PETERS, PHOTO-L: INOGRAPM ER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATEn r Qnmon DAVID H. FANNING, OF WORCESTER,MAbbAOHUSETTS.

IMPROVEM ENT IN CORSET-CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,277, dated January15, 187B application filed December 13, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID H. FANNING, of Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Oorset,of which the following is a specification This invention relates tocorsets, and has special reference to the method of applying and usingthe steels at the front thereof, to insure stiffness and prevent theliability of the steels being broken.

Figure 1 represents sufficient portion of the front of a corset toillustrate my invention; Fig. 2, a cross-section of Fig. 1, enlarged;and Fig. 8, a side elevation of that portion of the steel provided withthe studs or pins.

The majority of corsets now made are provided at the front, one halfwith a steel having pins, and the other half with a steel havin g eyesto fit over the pins, and when'hooked together the steels rest edge toedge. Other steels have been made, one broader than the other, so thatone could lap over the other when hooked together, and other steels ateach edge of the corset front have been strengthened for a portion oftheir length by the application of a second shorter steel.

In this my invention I make the steel 01, from which the hooks or pins bproject, double, or in two pieces, 2 3, and stitch such double steelinto the corset somewhat back from the front edge thereof, as shown inFig. 2. Then between such double steel a and the edge 0 of the corset Istitch a second narrow steel, d, thus providing that one half, 6, of thecorset, at its extreme edge, with one single steel and a double steel,the latter having hooks or pins 12. At the front edge of the other half,f, of the corset I place a single steel, 9, having eyepieces h, all asusual, to engage the hooks or studs 12.

.When the corset is secured about the person its front edges are causedto overlap, as shown in Fig. 2, the single steel 9 overlapping thesingle steel d, the eyes h engaging the studs 1) of the double steel a,thus making at the front of the corset, for a stiffening, two

double thicknesses of steel.

It is obvious that the steels applied in this way will be stronger andless liable to break than are the single steels; and by placing thesingle steel 01 at the side of the double steel a. (the two steels d a'being connected bya flexible hinge, in this instance of my invention thecloth forming the outer and inner faces of the corset) the steel d ispermitted to move independently of steel a, and is made much morecomfortable to the wearer than would be the case were the two steels d amade as one single wide steel.

It is obvious that instead of two steels, 2 3, I might employ a singlesteel thicker than the steel 01. 7

These steels may be applied to any usual form of corset.

I claim- In a corset, two single steels, one at each edge of each halfof the corset, and a double or stronger and stiffer steel placed nearone of the single steels, but farther back from the edge of the corset,one of the single steels being provided with eyes, and the double orthicker steel with studs, whereby the two single steels at the extremeedges of the corset,

when the corset is hooked together at the front, will fall, the one overthe other, and alongside of the double or thicker steel, the connectionbetween the two steels a b at one edge of the corset being flexible, tooperate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID H. FANNING.

Witnesses BENJ. L. SAMPSON, H. H. FAIRBANKS.

